The Republican journal., 1887-07-07
The Soldiers Monument Fund.

The Soldiers Monument Fund.
To THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL: 1t is pain.
fu to me to the last degree to witness the almost
unavailing efforts of the Grand Army Post of Bel
fast to secure Il decent soldiers monument.
1t seems to me, when ! look back twenty siN
years, and think of the brave young men of Waldo
county who sprang to arms at their country call,
and lost their lives, and suffered i'll rebel prisons,
if the good people of Belfast must either he
sleeping, or else they are more cold bootled and
par-monious than realize. Like bright
picture of some beautiful isle rising from the blue
sea, does the fair old city look, as steam into
the noble harior on the stately palaces of the Bos
ton and Bangor line. Our very senses are lulled
to rest by the feast of beautiful views. The pur-
ping hills of Camden have given the deep and
glowing tnts of midsummer, and the green
Islands that dot the noble BAY are rich with the
brightest emerald in their setting of deep blue.
Every boulder that rises i'll lonely grandeur on the
rock bound coast of the Pine Tree State is dearcr
to my heart than words can tell. once, and not
many years ago either, from the cities that lie
along Penobsc"t Bay, from the prosperous vii
lageS that have nourishcd 50 many years beneath
the rugged hills, and also from the many lonely
farm houses scattered along the rocky country,
there went forth the the brother, and also the
husband leaving his little family to care for them
selves. They took their lives in their hands, and
neither the cngin@ kis, nor the fond caress of the
dear ones made Them iaer in their noble purpose
From the south came the cill, thrice repeated, tur
more men to defend the old nag. Many
Killed III battle, others were. alas, missing never
more to he heard from. until the last roll is called
sui others were starving in southern prisons.
But did they faltcr when more men wanted?
No! Not even when disaster quickly followed
disaster. When our brothers were buried in uM
known graves, when they were starving at Amber
sonyi lille, and diving like sheep in the swarnps of
the Chckahominy still sprang up willing
and ready Three hundred thousand more"
Who can estimate the amount of courage it took
in those dark days to shoulder the nuskct aud
march away.
Thank God torlay that the young men of Belfast
were not weighed in the balance and found want
Ing. Thank God that they have left, and leav.
ing to their p"Stcrity a heritage of courage and
patriotism that is better than gold or lands. Do
those solid men of Belfast who are liling up
riches ever look back to that dark time. 10 they
remember the gloom and hush that brooded over
the "nce busy towns: Do they remember the al
most sabbath stiffness of those summer nights
when the ringing Voices of the lads who had made
merry the etaid old towns were hushcd and still
in their tents looking up at the southern stars and
thinking ot their dear New England homes or per
chance lying stark and stin. martyrs to a righteous
| cause. De they think Of the mother sand wives
and sisters, who shed bitter and burning tears
over the brave boys who marched away in their
bright uniforms to return? Let them close
the ledger and lock up the safe fora few moments
and mediate. Perhaps they may see !, brave
r nj in In1 4 tl,t.'